By Sandy Barnes
Berthoud Recorder

A list of the “dirty dozen” fruits and vegetables got national attention last week, with stories appearing in the media about the Environmental Working Group’s report on pesticide levels in produce.

According to the extensive study, which included six measurements of pesticides in samples of fruits and vegetables, peaches and imported grapes contain the highest levels — with apples, sweet bell peppers, celery and strawberries following closely. (See box for the complete “Dirty Dozen” list along with the “Clean 15.”)

Actually, the “dirty dozen” list has been in the making for quite some time. Health expert Dr. Andrew Weil is among those who have been advising people not to eat certain kinds of conventionally grown produce for the past few years. “Avoid the items that are most heavily contaminated by pesticides and other chemicals,” Weil states on his Web site while responding to a question from one of his readers.

According to Weil, who references the environmental group study, young children and pregnant women are taking the greatest risks when eating fruits and vegetables with relatively high levels and types of pesticides. Toxins in pesticides can affect the nervous and endocrine systems of developing infants and young children. Also, some pesticides have carcinogenic properties, the EPA states in Web site information on the subject.

The good news is that the majority of conventionally grown fruits and vegetables have relatively low or undetectable levels of pesticides, including sweet corn, cabbage, peas, pineapple and watermelon. And of course, especially here in health-conscious Colorado, there is the widely available option of buying organic produce. Choosing organic is certainly wise if the conventionally grown variety is on the bad list.

Organically grown food is undoubtedly more expensive than its conventionally produced counterpart. However, buying locally grown organic produce in season can keep grocery bills down. Growing a garden is another fine option, if there is space in your yard.

A question many people ask is why pesticides can’t just be washed off produce? While it is always best to thoroughly wash fruits and vegetables to remove soil and bacteria, washing is not all that effective in removing pesticides, according to the EWG study.

With fruits and vegetables highly regarded as essential to a healthy diet, it is important to keep them a priority on the menu. Equally important however, is limiting toxins and reducing health risks as much as possible by making informed choices.

More information on the Environmental Working Group study can be found on the organization’s Web site at www.ewg.org/sites/foodnews.

The Dirty Dozen
Peaches
Apples
Sweet Bell Peppers
Celery
Nectarines
Strawberries
Cherries
Kale
Lettuce
Imported Grapes
Carrots
Pears

The Clean 15
Onion
Avocado
Sweet Corn
Pineapple
Mango
Asparagus
Sweet Peas
Kiwi
Cabbage
Eggplant
Papaya
Watermelon
Broccoli
Tomato
Sweet Potato